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WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator John Boozman recognized Little Rock Air Force Base’s RODEO Teams for their achievements at the 2011 Air Mobility RODEO at McChord Air Field on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
RODEO is the U.S. Air Force’s and Air Mobility Command’s premier air mobility competition that draws competitors from around the world. The 314th Airlift Wing and the 19th Airlift Wing teams earned well deserved honors.
The following are the full remarks submitted by Boozman in the Congressional Record.
Mr. President, I rise today to honor the 314th Airlift Wing Air Mobility RODEO 2011 members who were awarded for excellence in their field at the Air Mobility Command RODEO 2011 at McChord Air Field.
In addition to winning the Moore Trophy for Best Air Mobility Wing, the team was recognized as the Best Airdrop Wing and maintainers and flyers also earned top honors for their maintenance skills, earning the Maintenance Skills Competition Award - C-130 maintenance and the Maintenance Skills Competition Award - overall winner. The C-130E team snagged the Best Overall Maintenance Team award, Best Team Overall (Maintenance and Operations), Best Overall Aircrew Team.
This outstanding crew, led by Col. Mark Czelusta, excelled during the international air rodeo competition which draws the "Best of the Best" from air forces around the world. More than 40 teams and 2,500 people from the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and selected foreign countries participated in this competition.
The group put in hours of hard work and deservedly earned these awards. In true Arkansas spirit of teamwork Col. Czelusta acknowledges this couldn’t have been done without the help of the 19th Airlift Wing and the community.
The 19th Airlift Wing also took home accolades. Members of the team were recognized as the Best C-130 Airdrop Aircrew.
What is even more amazing is that these crews accomplished this after having a major destruction to the Little Rock Air Force base in late April when a tornado damaged three C-130 planes and blew roofs off and damaged buildings in the base's flight line area.
Mr. President, I am proud to represent the 314th Airlift Wing Air Mobility RODEO 2011 team and the 19th Airlift Wing for all of their accomplishments. We are grateful for their service and thank them for their dedication to success and the sacrifice they make to protect our freedoms.